Introduction
James Cameron’s monumental movie The Titanic continues to stand out as one of the crowning film production achievements of the 90s. The film is extremely profitable and has received several awards over the years. The Titanic movie was the first few productions to apply a blend of practical and computer-generated effects. Watching the Titanic movie helped me realize what captivated James, the story surrounding the Titanic deserved to be more than a failure or political conspiracy. The original vessel collided with a submerged iceberg causing it to sink. Although the movie contains some scientifically justified content, this paper will discuss the content indicating the movie was overhyped.
Logos
James financed the reconstruction of the Titanic to about two-thirds to ensure the production was more acceptable and to bring back the original scene. Although the replication failed to resemble the original vessel in many attributes, the film and the script were beyond the quality generated during the 90s. Cameron’s film disregards the actual attributes and historical essence of the Titanic ship (Ashton, par 4). The film covers the romance of Leonard DiCaprio (Jack) and Kate Winslet (Rose), who were characters from different backgrounds. The movie’s script was from a producer’s objective; he was trying to recreate the Titanic but with the calamity destroying the romantic theme.
Ethos
The passengers who were on the third section of the ship, which was below deck, capsized with the ship. In Cameron’s film, passengers on the third section of the ship were locked in their compartments and failed to access the lifeboats while the rest fled for their lives. Based on historical findings, these claims were false, as all occupants were carefully ushered to the rescue boats before the ship finally capsized. The film was accurate about the captain sacrificing his life while the other occupants safely escaped. Those in the third class compartment were crucial since they worked on the engines. The people on the third deck that lost their lives displayed patriotism as they decided to hold their work posts while the ship sank (Lazarus, par 8). There was no logical explanation for anyone locking their companions in a sinking ship.
Pathos
The film was a collection of iconic scenes, and the band’s final presentation was most interesting. The orchestra decided to play ‘Nearer, May God to Thee’ since the musicians could see that their fates were predetermined. However, according to a survivor of the Titanic, the band decided to play popular ragtime music (Ashton, par 10). Rather than focus on the danger they faced, I believe the orchestra’s musical choice built hope and lifted the moods during a disaster. In the film, including different music was more of a tactical initiative to capture emotions and replicate the tension that the ship’s occupants must have felt. The film’s structure and all the alterations by the producer played a dynamic role in amplifying the film’s climax, unlike when the Titanic subsided.
Personal Experience
I probably would have never known about the Titanic, much less seen a version of the original ship. When I first watched the movie, I felt I was part of its history. I know surviving the Titanic was almost impossible; ocean conditions are usually very harsh. However, I do not understand how Jack failed to shelter on top of the shipwreck that lay around them when the ship sank. Such sacrifice to ensure the safety of a loved one was exaggerated for me.
Conclusion
Involving romance in a script that ended in calamity made the movie more bearable; however, the reflection was the producer’s imagination rather than the narration of the original scene. Those working on the third deck were loyal and devoted to the ship and their fellow passenger. Unlike in the movie, where they were the door was barred and they could not escape, the decision to hold their work posts was out of commitment. The musical choice played into the producer’s plot; they influenced emotions and created anticipation in the film. The band from the ship that sank played music purely for entertainment.
Works Cited
Ashton, Will. “Titanic: How Historically Accurate Was the 1997 Movie Starring Leonardo DiCaprio.” CINEMABLEND, Cinemablend, 2019. Web.
Lazzarus, Lucy. “Titanic: 5 Historical Inaccuracies in the Movie (& 5 Things It Got Right).” ScreenRant, 2020. Web.